Jersey City, NJ Filming & Production: Location Permits (2026)
Film location permits in Jersey City, NJ, sometimes called film shoot permits, production permits, or filming authorizations, cover commercial photography, video shoots, and motion picture production.
Key Facts
- Permit required for
- Filming/stills on public property, or private ROW impact
- Issuing office
- Mayor's office
- Apply-by window
- 14 days ahead; none within 72 hours
- Governing chapter
- Jersey City Code Chapter 5 (2013, amended 2018)
- Insurance
- City named additional insured, § 5-6
Summary
Jersey City requires anyone making a film or taking still photographs on public property to first obtain a film/photography permit from the Mayor's office, and the same permit applies on private property if filming interferes with public rights-of-way, under Code § 5-3. Applicants should apply at least 14 days ahead; requests inside 72 hours of filming are refused outright.
A.Permit Requirement. No person or organization shall commence the making of a film, or permit filming or take still photographs (as defined in this Chapter) on public property without first having completed an application and obtained a film/photography permit from the Mayor's office.B.No person shall commence the making of a film, commercial film or permit filming or take still photographs on private property without first having completed an application and obtained a film/photography permit from the City's Mayor's office if filming will interfere with the public's use of public property or rights of way on public property.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 52).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 5 of the Jersey City Code, adopted in 2013 and amended in 2018, governs commercial and educational filming citywide. " Once approved, the permit "shall issue, and be at all times during filming available for display" for inspection. " Permit fees are set separately in Chapter 160 by film size, Major, Intermediate or Minor, and applicants must also carry insurance naming the City as an additional insured and agree to indemnify the City under § 5-6. A handful of activities are exempt from the permit requirement altogether under § 5-5, including news-media filming, private weddings, court-related filming, and crews of three or fewer using only two cameras and two tripods.
Violations & Fines
Filming or shooting still photographs on Jersey City public property without a permit violates § 5-3.A directly. Under § 5-7.B, the City may deny or condition a permit application where the filming would create "a substantial risk of injury to persons or damage to property," where the applicant supplied false information, or where the activity would violate any other federal, state or local law; permits are non-transferable once granted per § 5-7.A.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to film on a Jersey City street?
Can I film on private property without a city permit?
How far ahead do I need to apply for a Jersey City filming permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Jersey City
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